House budget-writers back $1.5 billion more for education

The House Appropriations Committee voted on Thursday to put $1.5 billion more into public education on top of covering enrollment in the next two-year budget cycle, an amount equal to that endorsed by Senate budget-writers.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, said he also intends to put in more money into the current budget for education.

As outlined by Rep. John Otto, a Dayton Republican and Appropriations member leading the education subcommittee, the $1.5 billion would go into the Foundation School Program.

Rep. Sylvester Turner

Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Houston Democrat who is Appropriations vice-chairman, pushed for committee members to commit to also putting whatever extra money is available under the state spending cap toward education. The spending cap is tied to economic growth.

“If this is the start and the finish line, then I think we are doing the schoolchildren a disservice,” Turner said, noting that public education was cut back $5.4 billion two years ago in the face of a predicted revenue shortfall. The state instead has billions more than predicted by Comptroller Susan Combs.

Turner withdrew his proposal before a vote.

The Senate Finance Committee approved its version of the budget Wednesday, and it is expected to be taken up by the full Senate next week. The House will act after that, and differences will be worked out in a conference committee.